Yanks notes: Knee lands CC Sabathia on the disabled list

MILWAUKEE – A partial answer to CC Sabathia’s pitching woes was revealed Sunday, when the Yankees’ lefty was diagnosed with right-knee inflammation.

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Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia.

Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is scheduled to have his knee drained today in New York after a second MRI and exam by the club’s physician.

The original MRI did not disclose a meniscus tear, giving the Yankees hope that Sabathia would miss only two or three starts. But Sabathia is now the third of the team’s five original starters to land on the DL.

“That’s why I didn’t want to say anything,” said Sabathia, who felt some discomfort in his May 4 loss against Tampa Bay and all during Saturday’s rocky no-decision at Milwaukee. “But I felt I was doing more damage to the team than helping them.”

In 5¤ innings, Sabathia gave up three home runs in a 5-4 Brewers’ win. He gave up a combined nine runs on 19 hits in his previous two starts, both home losses.

Sabathia didn’t notify the club of his discomfort until after Saturday’s game, when his knee began to swell up significantly.

After the 2010 season, Sabathia had surgery to repair a torn right-knee meniscus – the very injury the Yanks feared prior to Sunday’s MRI.

“Obviously, it tests your depth,” said manager Joe Girardi, adding that Alfredo Aceves is the leading candidate to replace Sabathia (3-4, 5.28 ERA) in rotation.

The Yanks have lost Ivan Nova for the season (Tommy John surgery) and Michael Pineda (upper back strain) isn’t expected to return until early June. Pineda began throwing on flat ground Saturday in Tampa, Fla., without issue.

PHELPS SHAKY: Starter David Phelps handed back an early 3-0 lead, lasting five innings and yielding four earned runs Sunday.

“I’ve got to do a better job than that,” said Phelps, whose shaky third inning included a leadoff double by pitcher Matt Garza and a balk that put two runners in scoring position.

JETER HONORED: Prior to Sunday’s game, Jeter received a gold bat presented by Dick Groch, the scout who signed him out of Michigan’s Kalamazoo Central High.

“He’s the reason I’m a Yankee,” said Jeter, appreciative of the gesture and the crowd’s reaction. The Brewers also donated $10,000 to Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation. Jeter acknowledged a standing ovation from Milwaukee fans, which they repeated during his first and final at-bats.

Yanks notes: Knee lands CC Sabathia on the disabled list

MILWAUKEE – A partial answer to CC Sabathia’s pitching woes was revealed Sunday, when the Yankees’ lefty was diagnosed with right-knee inflammation.

Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is scheduled to have his knee drained today in New York after a second MRI and exam by the club’s physician.

The original MRI did not disclose a meniscus tear, giving the Yankees hope that Sabathia would miss only two or three starts. But Sabathia is now the third of the team’s five original starters to land on the DL.

“That’s why I didn’t want to say anything,” said Sabathia, who felt some discomfort in his May 4 loss against Tampa Bay and all during Saturday’s rocky no-decision at Milwaukee. “But I felt I was doing more damage to the team than helping them.”

In 5¤ innings, Sabathia gave up three home runs in a 5-4 Brewers’ win. He gave up a combined nine runs on 19 hits in his previous two starts, both home losses.

Sabathia didn’t notify the club of his discomfort until after Saturday’s game, when his knee began to swell up significantly.

After the 2010 season, Sabathia had surgery to repair a torn right-knee meniscus – the very injury the Yanks feared prior to Sunday’s MRI.

“Obviously, it tests your depth,” said manager Joe Girardi, adding that Alfredo Aceves is the leading candidate to replace Sabathia (3-4, 5.28 ERA) in rotation.

The Yanks have lost Ivan Nova for the season (Tommy John surgery) and Michael Pineda (upper back strain) isn’t expected to return until early June. Pineda began throwing on flat ground Saturday in Tampa, Fla., without issue.

PHELPS SHAKY: Starter David Phelps handed back an early 3-0 lead, lasting five innings and yielding four earned runs Sunday.

“I’ve got to do a better job than that,” said Phelps, whose shaky third inning included a leadoff double by pitcher Matt Garza and a balk that put two runners in scoring position.

JETER HONORED: Prior to Sunday’s game, Jeter received a gold bat presented by Dick Groch, the scout who signed him out of Michigan’s Kalamazoo Central High.

“He’s the reason I’m a Yankee,” said Jeter, appreciative of the gesture and the crowd’s reaction. The Brewers also donated $10,000 to Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation. Jeter acknowledged a standing ovation from Milwaukee fans, which they repeated during his first and final at-bats.